Despite a significant electoral upset, Japan’s top negotiator assures that tariff talks with the United States will proceed uninterrupted.
Ryosei Akazawa, Japan’s Economic Revitalization Minister and chief negotiator, stated that the recent upper house election results will not derail ongoing trade negotiations with the U.S. “As we have placed top priority on protecting national interest, the election outcome will not have any particular impact on the negotiations,” Akazawa said.
On Sunday, the ruling coalition led by Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) and its partner Komeito lost control of the upper house, securing only 47 seats—short of the 50 needed for a majority in the 248-seat chamber.
Despite the setback, Ishiba declared his intention to remain in office, emphasizing the critical nature of the tariff discussions with the United States. “We are facing extremely important negotiations. Now is not the time for political instability,” he noted.
Akazawa is set to visit the United States early this week for the eighth round of trade talks. While the detailed schedule is still being arranged, he affirmed that efforts to reach a mutually acceptable deal will continue vigorously under Ishiba’s directive.
Japan is working against a looming August 1 deadline to finalize a trade agreement with the U.S. Failure to do so could result in a 25 percent tariff on Japanese exports to its largest market.
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Japan top negotiator: Tariff talks unaffected by upper house results
cgtn.com
